Adult Sabbath School TEACHER TRAINING GUIDELINES

1 International Institute of Christian Ministries ARE 01 Adult Sabbath School TEACHER TRAINING GUIDELINES Sabbath School /Personal Ministries Department General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600 2 FOREWORD The Adult Sabbath School Teachers TRAINING GUIDELINES have been prepared at the request of the division/field for more materials to equip Sabbath School teachers. It is designed to assist mission/conference Sabbath School directors, local church pastors and trained teachers to provide TRAINING to Sabbath School teachers to become better equipped for their teaching ministries in the local church. It is a part of the Sabbath School Teachers Certification program. Practically anyone who will use these GUIDELINES needs to attend the TRAINING .

2 The Adult Sabbath School Teachers TRAINING GUIDELINES are designed for an eight-hour class, which is easily planned for a weekend. The eight-hour TRAINING could be planned as follows: Friday evening - two hours - Sessions One and Two Sabbath afternoon - two hours - Sessions Three and Four Sunday morning or afternoon - four hours - Sessions Five and Six It may also be possible to use the GUIDELINES for four Sabbath afternoons, two hours each; or two Sabbaths, for 4 hours each. Attendees: Sabbath School superintendents Sabbath School teachers and future teachers Members of Sabbath School Council Interested members Source Materials: Betz, Charles H., Teaching Techniques for the Adult Sabbath School , Westlake Village, California: United Services, 1980. Teachers as well as students can use Dr.

3 Betz s book as a textbook, and the GUIDELINES can be used by teachers in presenting the seminar. Master Transparencies: Master copies of transparencies for the GUIDELINES are available upon request. They are numbered according to the numbers shown on the right margin of each session. For example, TR 1-5 means the following: TR (transparency); 1-5 is Session Number One, Transparency Number 5. Any participants will attend the Sabbath School Teachers TRAINING faithfully for six sessions and will be entitled to certificates of attendance. Those who have taken these eight-hour seminars may take more seminars toward their full certification in the Sabbath School Adult Religious Education program. 3 It is our hope that, as Sabbath School teachers become better equipped with the help of these GUIDELINES , they will enable the process of Sabbath School becoming one of the greatest instrumentalities, and the most effectual, in bringing souls to christ (Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p.)

4 10). Jonathan Kuntaraf Associate Director Sabbath School /Personal Ministries Department General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Forward (SLIDE 2) 1. Session One: Know the Role of Sabbath School Teachers 2. Session Two: Know the Teachers Qualifications 3. Session Three: Know the Preparation for Teaching 4. Session Four: Know the Power of Teaching 5. Session Five: Know the Methods of Teaching 6. Session Six: Growing Continuously 5 INTRODUCTION KNOW THE ROLE OF Sabbath School TEACHERS Aim: (SLIDE2&3) To assist the student to understand the objectives and important role of the Sabbath School , to see the need of revitalizing Sabbath School , and to discover the important role of Sabbath School teachers. Step I: (SLIDE 4) Ask the audience to compare regularly attending Sabbath School with the number of church members.

5 Ask them, What percentage of members come to Sabbath School ? (Potential answers: 40% to 80%) Step 2: (SLIDE 5)Describe the recent findings which shows Sabbath School attendance has dropped from 80% of church membership to 40% of church membership in the past 30 years. Although the condition of every church may be differ, it is a real challenge to bring attendance as high as church membership. Step 3: (SLIDE 6) Ask the audience: Why do people NOT come to Sabbath School ? (You may need to ask someone to write down all the answers on the black or white board). Potential answers: Lack of fellowship Sabbath School is not important People do not study their lesson People are not involved The programs are boring We don t have a good SS TEACHER Conflict in the church Their spiritual needs are not met Etc.

6 Step 4: (SLIDE 7) Ask the audience: Which of these answers could be solved by Sabbath School 6 teachers? (Potential answers: After reviewing them one by one, Sabbath School teachers could participate in solving most of the reasons why people do not come to Sabbath School . Therefore, it is important for the church to have more capable SS teachers. Step 5: (SLIDE8) Explain the objectives of Sabbath School which all Sabbath School teachers need to understand: Understanding the Objectives of Sabbath School 1. Bible Study 2. Fellowship 3. Community Outreach 4. World Mission Step 6: (SLIDE 9)Explain the motto of Sabbath School which needs to be understood by all Sabbath School teachers: 1. To Win 2. To Hold 3. To Train Step 7: (SLIDE 10) Explain the important role of Sabbath School by giving the divine plan as stated by the Spirit of Prophecy: 1.)

7 The Sabbath School is an important branch of the missionary work, not only because it gives to young and old a knowledge of God s word, but also because it awakens in them a love for its sacred truth, and a desire to study them for themselves; above all, it teaches them to regulate their lives by its holy teachings (Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pp. 10, 11). (SLIDE 11) 2. The Sabbath School , if rightly conducted, is one of God s instrumentalities to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth (Ibid, p. 115). Step 8: Explain the need for improving Sabbath School 1. (SLIDE 12) Our Sabbath schools are not what 7 the Lord would have them to be, for there is altogether too much dependence placed upon form and machinery, while the life-giving power of God is not manifested for the conversion of souls for whom christ died.

8 The order of things must be changed if our Sabbath schools meet the purpose for which they exist (CSW, p 157). 2. (SLIDE 13) How sad it is to think of the great amount of mechanical work that is done in the Sabbath School , while there is little evidence that there is moral transformation in the souls of those who teach and who are taught (CSW, p 66). 3. (SLIDE 14) There is much to be done in the Sabbath work also, in bringing the people to realize their obligation and to act their part. God calls them to work for Him, and the ministers should guide their effort (5T256). Step 9: Explain the important role of Sabbath School teachers as stated in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy: 1. (SLIDE 15) Teaching is one of the spiritual gifts 2. (SLIDE 16) The call of the TEACHER 3. A TEACHER is more than an instructor a.

9 Teaching in the Sabbath School is a much broader task than just communicating biblical truth. (SLIDE 17) Teachers in the Sabbath School have a missionary field given them to teach the Scriptures, not parrot like, to repeat over that which they have taken no pains to understand. They are they which testify of Me the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered (CSW, pp 18, 19). b. A TEACHER has a desire to study, to 8 discover new truth, then communicate it in the instructing process. (SLIDE 18) If we would study the Bible diligently and prayerfully every day, we should every day see some beautiful truth in a new, clear, and forcible light (RH, March 4, 1884). 4. (SLIDE19) A TEACHER as a shepherd of a class a. Leads the flock b. Feeds the flock c. Protects the flock 5.

10 (SLIDE 20&21) A TEACHER is the pastor s extension a. The Sabbath School TEACHER helps the pastor reach hard-to-reach people b. Acts 20:28-31.. watch implies oversee, feed, protect the flock. 6. (SLIDE22) A TEACHER is a leader Our superintendents, our teachers in the Sabbath School , should be frequently in prayer. A word spoken in due season may be as good seed in youthful minds, may result in leading little feet in the right path. But a wrong word may lead their feet in the path of ruin (CSW, p 77). 7. (SLIDE23) A TEACHER is a feeder If teachers in the Sabbath School felt the love which they should feel for these lambs of the flock, many more would be won to the fold of christ (CSW, p 76). 8. (SLIDE 24) A TEACHER is a protector - John 21:16 SESSION II KNOW THE TEACHERS QUALIFICATIONS (SLIDE 25) Aim: To introduce the important role of Sabbath School 9 teachers, to introduce the qualifications of good Sabbath School teachers and to understand their preparation needed for teaching Step I: Review that which was discussed in Session I.